Material handling trailer system

ABSTRACT

A multiple use trailer system for hauling conventional and long loads. The front and rear end gates are closed for normal loads and open to accommodate long loads such as re-bar and lengths of pipe. The rear gate has an aerodynamic air wing that holds it in the open position. A dumping mechanism has a platform which is tiltable to dump the trailer and in one embodiment is mounted on a fulcrum which both pivots and moves laterally to maintain a constant dump line.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a material hauling and transportationsystem, and more particularly to a versatile, multiple-use trailer forhauling both long material as well as loose and bulk material, whichtrailer may be unloaded by a tiltable unloading platform.

Long materials such as rebar, steel specialty products, pipe and othermaterials are typically transported on long flatbed trailers. Sectionsof rebar are typically 50 to 60 feet long and flatbed trailers work wellfor transporting products of this type. However, the problem that arisesis that long flatbed trailers are not well adapted for hauling othermaterials such as bulk material or scrap metal. For efficient andeconomic hauling, trailers must be capable of multiple use so thattrailers can transport loads in both directions of travel and do nothave to "deadhead" in one direction. Accordingly, if long trailersadapted for hauling items such as rebar from a steel mill ordistribution facility are to be also used for hauling scrap material andloose or bulk material, such trailers have to be modified to accommodateloose material. Usually this modification involves attaching sideboards,about 4 feet high, to the opposite sides of the flatbed. Unloading ofthe materials such as scrap metal from conventional flatbeds is alsocomplicated and normally unloading requires use of a crane and a magnetto pick up the load from the trailer and deposit it in a yard or at ajob site.

Prior art tractor trailing dumping mechanisms are typified by U.S. Pat.No. 2,953,410, which shows a tractor drawn trailer in which the fifthwheel may be elevated by means of a hydraulically actuated lifting andlowering device.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,788,702 shows an improved system for handling the bulkmaterial such as trash refuse. This patent provides a tractor design sothat it is possible to lift a 35 foot long trailer and dump its contentssafely.

Accordingly, there exists a need for improved trailer and hauling systemwhich will accommodate long lengths of material and also allow thetrailer to be used for hauling other materials such as scrap material,which trailer can be conveniently off-loaded.

The broad object of the present invention is to provide a multi-usetrailer which may be pulled by a tractor for conveniently hauling bothlong material and loose material.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a versatile longbed trailer having a front gate and a rear gate which may be pivoted toan open position, along the side of the trailer and secured in place byan air safety wing to prevent the door from being inadvertently closedduring travel.

Another object of the invention is to provide a long bed trailer whichis light weight and requires less maintenance.

A specific object of the present invention is to provide a trailersuitable for hauling scrap materials to a steel facility and hauling onthe return trip, long lengths of rebar.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a unique platformfor dumping the contents of the trailer, which platform maintains avertical dump line.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a long lengthtrailer which may be dumped without requiring the complexity and expenseof incorporating a dumping mechanism as part of the trailer.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Basically, the present invention provides a multiple use trailer whichtrailer is elongated, having a deck and upstanding side walls. A dumpgate is provided at the rear of the trailer, which dump gate may bepivoted about a vertical axis to an open position adjacent one side ofthe trailer, and safely retained in the open position by an aerodynamiclocking safety wing. The trailer is also provided with a front gatewhich may be side or bottom opening. With the front and rear dump gatesclosed, the trailer may be used to haul loose material such as scrapmaterial to a steel facility. When dumping the contents of the trailer,the rear end gate may be opened. Both the front and rear end gates maybe placed in an open position for hauling long loads such as rebar whichmay extend beyond the front and rear end of the deck. Thus, rebar orother finished material may be hauled on a return trip from a steelfacility, making efficient use of the trailer, as the trailer may beused in both directions of a trip. The trailer does not requiremodification such as placement of temporary side walls on the deck whenhandling loose material.

To keep the trailer light, a dumping mechanism is provided which is notpart of the trailer but is part of the unloading site and includes anelevated platform on which the trailer is positioned. Suitable chocksand a locking device secure the trailer to the platform. The trailer andplatform may be elevated by means of suitable hydraulic rams with theweight of the trailer assisting to pivot the platform. As the trailerand platform are rearwardly pivoted, the contents, such as scrapmaterial, are discharged from the end along a constant dump line into asuitable receptacle such as a rail car. In one embodiment, the platformis mounted on a semi-circular fulcrum, which allows the platform to bothrotate and also to laterally move to maintain a constant dump line.Conventional unloading equipment such as cranes and magnets may also beused to unload the trailer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention willbe more fully appreciated and understood from the following description,claims and drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a trailer according to the presentinvention shown with the front gate open;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the trailer shown in FIG. 1 with both the frontand rear dump gates being in an open position;

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the trailer with both the end gate closed andlocked;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the trailer of the present invention shown withthe front gates open;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the trailer showing the trailer loaded with longmaterial such as rebar and both the front and rear end gates open;

FIG. 6 is a detail view showing the dump gate in an open, lockedposition secured by the air safety wing;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7--7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 7A is a sectional view taken along line 7A--7A of FIG. 7;

FIG. 8 is a view showing the trailer on a dumping platform;

FIG. 9 is similar to FIG. 8, showing the dumping platform in a tilted,dumping position;

FIG. 10 shows the hauling trailer in connection with an alternateembodiment of unloading platform;

FIG. 11 shows the unloading platform of FIG. 10 in a tilted dumpposition unloading into a rail car;

FIG. 12 illustrates a locking mechanism in connection with a trailer;and

FIG. 13 is a rear view of the trailer and locking mechanism of FIG. 12.

Turning now to the drawings, FIGS. 1 through 7A depict the trailer ofthe system of the present invention which is shown and is generallydesignated by the numeral 10 and has a body 16 having an elongated frame12 which supports a planar of flat deck 14. Frame 12 may be constructedin a conventional manner and may be uni-body construction supported bylongitudinally extending beams 15 and cross members extending atappropriate locations. The deck 14 may be a steel plate such as 1/8" to1/4" plate welded to the frame or chassis 12. The body has opposite sidewalls 17 and 18 which extend the length of the trailer and may typicallybe about 3 to 6 feet high. Side walls 17 and 18 are also suitablyreinforced at spaced-apart locations by members 20. A front gate 22 islocated at the front of the trailer and extends between the oppositeside walls. The front gate may be side opening or may, as shown in FIG.1, pivot downwardly and horizontally at pivot 21 against the biasingforce exerted by spring 24 which extends between the trailer body andthe gate 22.

The trailer is supported on a suitable suspension assembly 25 which, asshown, includes tandem dual axles 26 and 27 each supporting wheelassemblies 30 and 31, respectively. The wheel assemblies may be fixed orone or both of the wheel assemblies 30 and 31 may be sliding assemblieswhich may be longitudinally adjusted to accommodate the load.

A landing gear 36 having an extendable ground engaging foot 38 isdisposed at a forward location and extending from the underside of theframe to support the trailer when the trailer is not secured to atractor. The trailer may be coupled or secured to a tractor by kingpin40 of conventional design.

The rear end dump gate or door 50 comprises a generally rectangularfabricated suitable steel plate and reinforced by structural members 52,as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. The dump gate 50 is pivotally secured tothe rear of side wall 17 by a hinge which consists of vertical hingepins 54. Hinge plate 55 extends laterally from the top of the side wall17 and hinge plate 56 extends laterally from the bottom of side wall 16.Hinge pin 54 extends between the hinge plates and through a verticalbore 58 in the edge of the end gate. The end gate is pivotal through arange of about 270° between the closed position shown in FIG. 2 in whichthe gate closes the end of the trailer, to an open position in which thegate will assume a position adjacent the outer surface of side wall 17,as seen in FIG. 5.

As best seen in FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 7A, the trailer may be transportedwith the dump gate open to accommodate long loads. An air safety ordeflector wing 60 is pivotally secured to the side wall 17 at pivot pin62 disposed forwardly of the end of the dump gate when the dump gate isin the full open position. The air wing is of a height correspondingapproximately to the height of the dump gate. The air wing 60 has agenerally planar surface which at its distal end forms a curved section63, which acts as a wind deflector to deflect air flow outwardly whenthe trailer is moving in a forward direction. In the transport position,a portion of the wing 60 overlaps the end dump gate 50 and secures it ina full open position. A vertical channel 66 is welded to the inner sideof air wing 60 to secure it in a stable position spaced from side wall17 when the end gate is open. The air wing, in addition to securing thedoor in an open position so long loads can be accommodated, alsoincreases the aerodynamic efficiency of the trailer by deflecting airflow outwardly and not allowing the airflow to be directed between theside of the trailer 16 and the dump gate.

The air wing is locked in the closed position as shown in FIGS. 7 and 7Aby means of latch 70 which consists of a pair of latch pins 72 mountedat spaced-apart locations on the exterior of side wall 17. Latch plates74 are pivotally secured to the interior of wing 60 and each are securedby rods 76 to a bar 78. Bar 78 is rotatable on shaft 71 by means ofhandle 79. Rotation of handle 79 to the unlocked position will allowlatch plates 74 to oppositely pivot to an open position. When open, wing60 can be pivoted outwardly to allow gate 50 to assume a positionadjacent side wall 17 as seen in FIG. 6. The wing 60 may then bereturned to a closed position overlying a portion of the gate and lockedby means of handle 79 which will bring the latch plates into lockingengagement with the latch pins 72 as seen in FIG. 7. Handle 79 engagesstop 77 when closed. Gate 50 may also be retained by an additional lockwhich is shown as a manually insertable pin 80 extending vertically intostrap 82 which is welded to upper edge of side wall 17 which tab has areceiving bore 84.

The design of the trailer allows both loose material such as scrapmetal, grain, gravel and the like, to be hauled and for loads of thistype, gate 50 is in a closed position to prevent material from beinginadvertently discharged from the rear of the trailer. Since the trailerhas side walls, it is not necessary for the operator to attach temporaryside walls as is necessary with most conventional flatbeds when used forhauling long loads. A temporary tarp can be used to protect loads, ifnecessary. Thus, the trailer may be used, as for example, to haul loosescrap metal to a steel facility such as a steel mill or a steelcollection and distribution location. Once the trailer has been dumped,it can be loaded with finished steel products such as long lengths ofrebar or steel pipe.

Long loads, such as rebar and pipe, are accommodated by opening the endgate to the full open position shown in FIG. 5. In this position, bothgates 50 and 22 may be open to allow easy loading and unloading of suchloads and will also allow loads to project beyond both ends of thetrailer as permitted by local highway regulations.

FIG. 5 shows the trailer 10 loaded with lengths of rebar 90 projecting apermitted distance beyond both ends of the trailer. The long rebarsections are supported on traverse wooden blocks 92 at spaced intervalsin the trailer. The blocks provide frictional resistance to movement ofthe load. Because of the substantial length of the trailer, standarddump construction, which involves the use of on-board hydraulics wouldnot be practical or safe. Accordingly, in order to facilitate dumpingand also to maintain minimum weight, the dumping mechanism is notintegrated into the trailer as with a conventional end dump trailer.

Referring to FIG. 8 and 9, a dumping platform is shown which isgenerally designated by the numeral 200. The platform includes anelevated loading area or unloading area which is shown as a concreteabutment 202 having an upper roadway surface 204. Adjacent to theabutment is a receiving area 206 into which materials from the trailer10 are to be dumped. The receiving area 206 may, for example, includerailroad tracks 210 onto which a rail car 212 can be positioned forreceipt of material off-loaded from trailer 10. Platform 220 has anupper surface 222 which aligns with the roadway surface 204. Theplatform has a forward end which, in the horizontal position, seats in arecess 226 in the abutment and is lockably in this position by lockingpin 228, which is engageable in the platform. The pin may be manually orhydraulically actuated. The platform is of sufficient length so that itprojects outward of the abutment so that its outer end is positionedabove the desired discharge location, in this case above rail tracks210. The platform suitably fabricated from steel or other high strengthmaterials suitably reinforced.

The platform 220 is pivotal at an intermediate location about the upperend of vertical side wall 230 at pivot pin 234. The abutment 202 definesa pit area 240 below the inner end of the platform. The pit area 240accommodates necessary equipment for pivoting the platform to the dumpposition, shown in FIG. 9 and returning it to the position shown in FIG.8.

A hydraulic ram 250 is shown having its head end pivotally affixed to amounting pad 255 within the pit area. The extendable rod 260 ispivotally secured to the underside of the platform 220 at pivotconnection 262. It will be seen that when the hydraulic ram ispressurized, the rod 260 will extend elevating the platform to theposition shown in FIG. 9 in which the platform is positionedapproximately 45° with respect to the roadway surface 204. The pivotpoint 234 is located at an intermediate location along the platform sothat the weight of the trailer and its contents assist in pivoting theplatform. In the dump position, all loose material in the trailer will,due to the effect of gravity, be discharged from the end of the trailerinto the area 206 or into a rail car 212.

As seen in FIGS. 12 and 13, the trailer is maintained in position on theplatform by means of rear hydraulic locking mechanisms 275 which willreleasably engage the opposite rear wheels 26. A retainer or chock 280engages the foot 38 of the landing gear.

FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate an alternate embodiment of the dumpingmechanism of the present invention designated by the numeral 300. Theadvantage of the dumping mechanism shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 is that theplatform both tilts and moves laterally to maintain a constant dumpline. The embodiments of FIGS. 8, 9, 10 and 11 are stable and requireless energy to operate. In the embodiment of FIGS. 10 and 11, theplatform 320 is mounted on suitable abutment 302 which has a roadwaysurface 304 onto which the trailer to be dumped may be backed intoposition by a tractor trailer. The abutment includes a pit area 340adjacent a dumping area 306. The dumping area includes rail tracks 310onto which rail car 312 may be moved for purposes of receiving theoff-loaded material from the trailer. The forward end of the abutment302 has a section 309 having an upper bearing surface 316 which isparallel to the road surface 304, but displaced at an elevation belowthe road surface 304. Platform 320 is constructed as described withreference to FIG. 9 and has a generally planar upper surface 314 withchocks 325 at the outer end and a locking mechanism 275 which isengageable with the rear wheels to maintain the trailer in a stableposition during dumping. The platform 320 is tilted by means ofhydraulic ram 350 which is secured within the pit area 340 at mountingpad 355. The rod end of the ram is pivotally secured to the platform atpivotal connection 362. Platform 320 further includes a generallyarcuate fulcrum 375 which extends from the underside of the platform atan intermediate location. The fulcrum rests on bearing surface 316. Inthe normal position shown in FIG. 10, the platform is locked in ahorizontal position by means of a hydraulic or pneumatic actuator bolt326 so that the upper surface 324 of the platform 320 is co-planar withthe roadway surface 304. The inner end of the platform rests in a recess328 in the loading and unloading abutment.

When the trailer is in the position shown in FIG. 10, with the rearwheels engaging or abutting the chocks 325 and the trailer locked inposition by means of a locking device 275 engaging the rear wheels, thehydraulic ram 350 may then be pressurized. As the ram is pressurized,the mounting of the ram allows it to pivot rearwardly as it extends. Theplatform will be rotated to the inclined dumping or off-loading positionshown in FIG. 11. As this occurs, the platform will also be movedrightwardly from the position shown in FIG. 10, which is permitted bythe relative sliding action of the arcuate surface of the fulcrum 375 onthe bearing surface 316. This motion maintains a constant dump line "DL"as shown in FIG. 11 so that off-loaded material will be properlydischarged into the rail car 312. The weight of the trailer and itscontents assist in causing one trailer to pivot to the dump position.Once empty, the hydraulic ram is retracted which, along with the weightof the trailer, will rotate the platform to a horizontal position inwhich it may then be locked.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the present invention providesa multiple use long trailer design which will handle both long materialand loose scrap material. The trailer can do the job of a flatbedtrailer, a dry van trailer and an end dump trailer. The trailer hasopenable gates at both the front and rear ends. The trailer is lightweight since the dumping mechanism is external. The unique dumpingplatform utilizes the weight of the rear of the trailer to help rotatethe platform between horizontal and dumping positions and returnposition. The system provides substantial advantages and ease ofoperation and requires less energy and the platform is betterstabilized. With the present invention, dumping material can be dumpedfrom the platform into a stockpile or onto a conveyor or rail car fortransportation to another location.

While the principles of the invention have been made clear in theillustrative embodiments set forth above, it will be obvious to thoseskilled in the art to make various modifications to the structure,arrangement, proportion, elements, materials and components used in thepractice of the invention. To the extent that these variousmodifications do not depart from the spirit and scope of the appendedclaims, they are intended to be encompassed therein.

I claim:
 1. A trucking system comprising:(a) a multiple-use trailer foruse with a tractor comprising:(i) an open bed having front and rear endsand supported for transport on a wheel and axle assembly and having adeck; (ii) an openable front gate at the end of the bed; (iii) anopenable rear gate at the rear end of the bed whereby the trailer may beused with the gates closed for hauling or may be used with the gatesopen for hauling long material extending beyond the ends of the bed; and(b) an unloading station comprising:(i) an abutment having a roadwaysurface, said roadway surface supporting a tiltable platform, saidplatform having an upper surface for receiving the trailer and having alength generally corresponding to the length of said trailer, saidplatform having a pivot connection at a generally intermediate locationalong the length and having a loading position in which the platform isgenerally coplanar with the said roadway surface and whereby saidplatform and loaded trailer pivot generally about the center of gravityof the platform and loaded trailer; (ii) a material-receiving arealocated adjacent said ramp and at an elevation below the platform; (iii)means for temporarily securing said trailer to said platform; and (iv)means for tilting said platform between said loading position and atilted dumping position in which the rear end of the platform extendsover said material-receiving area and is below the elevation of theroadway surface, said means for tilting said platform including linearactuator means extending between said abutment and a location on saidplatform between said inner end and said pivot point.
 2. The truckingsystem of claim 1 wherein said means for securing said trailer to saidplatform comprises hydraulic locking means.
 3. The trucking system ofclaim 1 wherein said actuator means for tilting said platform comprisesa hydraulic ram.
 4. The trucking system of claim 1 wherein said linearactuator means has one end secured within a recess in said ramp and insaid loading position is retracted below said platform.
 5. The truckingsystem of claim 1 further including locking means associated with saidplatform inner end to maintain said platform in said loading position.